Authors notes: So this is my first time posting on this website, so if I make any glaring mistakes, please let me know. Obviously, Star Trek is not my creation, so the concepts and background storylines are the property of CBS and Cryptic Studios.

So this story is based on the Featured episode "The 2800", specifically the mission "Boldly They Rode", with a few changes to suit my story. What I love about Star Trek Online, besides being a continuation of the Prime universe, was the way it inserted you into the Star Trek universe. Whatever you made, you were allowed to be a part of it. It left just enough that you could fill in your own details, such as what you and your bridge officers are like and your responses to the different events you partake in.

So, this is just me doing that, using the mission from the game as a background for what this story is about: the characters. Of course, I'll be referencing just about everything Star Trek related, so it's best if you've seen all of the series.

Yes, any alien names are just Earth names with an apostrophe thrown in there. This is because they are based on my bridge officers in game, who I named after my friends.

Also, because I loved the 2009 Star Trek movie so much, I will be ripping scenes from that movie straight into my story. See if you can find them!

And now, chapter two!

Chapter two

Bigotry

"That'll be all. Dismissed."

With that, So'Gam's senior staff started to get up and leave. All except Vi'cky. She stayed there, bidding everyone else farewell as So'Gam turned to the window, looking out. Looking at Earth. Every admiral stationed at a star base had a good view of space. Usually, it would be space, or some material-rich asteroid, and sometimes a planet. Rarely were ship Captains stationed at Earth space dock, but So'Gam was in between ships. Waiting for the next Justice.

So'Gam thought of his previous ships. The Miranda class he served on as first officer, and how, during a Borg attack, he was forced to take command of it. His first ship as Captain, the U.S.S Justice, a refit constitution class, thus starting a long line of ships with the name "Justice." In just the last 3 years, he had gone through four ships, and was now awaiting his fifth. If he had been serving in peace time, he would have been kicked out of Starfleet a long time ago for needing so many ships. The Klingons, though, rarely allowed you to escape a battle to make repairs.

The Justice-C, a Sovereign class cruiser, had served him well. He had fought off many Borg attacks in it, but now he needed something more. As an admiral, he'd be taking all sorts of assignments. Diplomatic missions, exploring uncharted space, dealing with the klingons and the Romulans. What was left of the Romulans anyway…and with the few that were left, So'Gam felt almost…safe.

"So, we're finally going to take it back." Vi'cky said, breaking the silence. "After that retreat last time, it'll be good to go back and take care of those Dominion ships."

"We retreated for a reason." So'Gam replied, still looking out the window. "The Dominion war was one of the most devastating periods of time for the federation. They matched the veracity of the Klingons and the treachery of the Romulans. Not that they really needed to use deceit…"

"The Romulans entering the Dominion War was the turning point." Vi'cky said. "But we can't count on them this time."

"Not that I would want to…" So'Gam finally turned around to face her. "Who knows what they would do in this situation."

Vi'cky frowned a bit. "So'Gam….you're doing it again."

"What?"

"Letting your emotions get the better of you."

"And when has that failed us before?" So'Gam asked.

"It's helped us on a number of occasions, I admit, but I know you, admiral…you've always reminded me of Spock, but you and he differ on this one thing. Your….distaste for Romulans…they've already lost their home world. They're only trying to rebuild now."

"I would perhaps be a little more relieved by that if we hadn't had to deal with the Tal Shiar before." So'Gam said. "You recall the last time."

"I do, but you have to remember that the Tal Shiar are just one branch of the Romulan government. Come on, So'Gam, use some of that logic…"

"We will not be having this discussion again." So'Gam said. "You have your orders. Make sure the new Justice is fully manned."

"Of course, I'll make sure all three thousand crewmen are ready." Vi'cky said, turning to leave.

"Only you could get away with using sarcasm like that around me."

She stopped just as she turned the corner. "Is that…fondness of familiarity? I thought that was below Vulcans."

"Not this Vulcan." So'Gam said.

"Are you sure about this? Runabouts aren't generally known for these kinds of energy outputs."

"It can handle it, trust me. I'm a scientist."

"That doesn't make this any better!"

Velma crossed her arms, leaning back in the chair of the shuttlecraft. "You don't trust me?"

"It's just that you're a student here like me. If you were a professor, I'd feel a bit more comfortable…" Mi'key practically blurted out. He was on the floor, working on a side panel.

"I may be a student, but I'm a good student! Hell, I've given some of the professors here a hard time. Trust me, these calculations are correct."

"Maybe in theory, as a lot of science goes, but as an engineer, I have reservations about this." Mi'key popped his head out of the panel, his antennae drooping a bit, and his short, white hair a bit of a mess. The Andorian had seen better days.

"Just do it. You want a good grade on this, right? It's really simple, we go into the nebula and get some samples. This shield modification will allow us to stay in the nebula for a longer time and get samples the Montana couldn't."

"I am reluctant to say that I agree." Jil'eesa stepped into the shuttlecraft, taking a seat next to Velma. "Insistent, though she may be, she strives to be second to none when it comes to scientific endeavors."

"You know Janeway is my role model." Velma said, trying to calm Mi'key's nerves. Mi'key simply groaned, sticking his head back into the side panel to complete the modifications.

"If it would help, I could check the modifications myself, just to be sure." Jil'eesa offered.

"Yeah, that's exactly what I need, the Vulcan who specializes in blowing things up to check shield modifications." Mi'key quipped.

"A tactical officer does much more then "blow things up"."

"Yeah, whatever, look, it's done." Mi'key quickly placed the panel cover back and stood up. "Let's just get this over with. First sign of trouble, I'm pulling this runabout from the nebula."

"There won't be any troubles." Velma said, taking a seat at the front of the shuttlecraft. "Let's contact the professor and tell her we're ready. Hopefully she'll give us the all clear to carry out the mission now…"

The nebula they had been assigned to was not too far out of the way. It was somewhat near what used to be the Earth-Romulan neutral zone. Now that Romulus was destroyed, the zone no longer existed officially, though Federation star bases still monitored the area for any stray Romulan ships.

"Scanning…the nebula is several thousand kilometers wide. Not really that big, but still easy for a ship to get lost in. Sensors are having a hard time getting a read of what's inside…" Velma said as she examined what data the ship could get from the nebula.

"All right, 'captain'…" Mi'key said, the slight exaggeration he put in the word made Jil'eesa raise an eyebrow. "Let's try going inside. All systems are functioning within normal parameters so far."

"Thank you, chief engineer." Velma said with a grin before turning her chair to Jil'eesa. "All weapons ready?"

"Phaser banks are fully charged." Jil'eesa reported. "Though if I may add, asking about the status of weapons during a scientific expedition is hardly necessary."

"Just in case." Velma replied, turning her chair back to face the front.

"If you insist…more importantly, shields are up and emitting 36 percent more energy than standard protocol. We should be able to stay in the nebula for 4 hours and 35 minutes longer."

"That's way longer then I really want to be here." Mi'key said.

"Then let's get some samples quickly." Velma said. "I'm taking us in…"

It had been two hours since they entered.

"No…these samples are still the same as the one we got half an hour ago, beam them back outside."

Velma and Mi-key were in the back of the shuttle craft, examining each sample carefully.

"I was hoping to discover that the material deeper inside the nebula was different…Let's take her in another few kilometers, just one more time."

"Okay, but the shields are already starting to feel the stress." Mi'key said. "This is the last time, and then I'm recommending we leave."

"Full impulse, take her in a few kilometers more, Jil'eesa." Velma ordered.

"Aye aye, captain." Jil'eesa responded, the shuttlecraft moving farther into the nebula.

"I guess I may have to accept that my hypothesis was mistaken…not something I usually do." Velma said.

"Why are you so certain that you can find different kinds of samples deeper in the nebula?" Mi'key asked as he walked back to the front of the shuttle with Velma.

"Well, my calculations showed that there was something inside the nebula that didn't match the composition of the rest of it. I wanted to find out why, but all of these samples are the same-"

"Captain…Velma, look at this!" Jil'eesa interrupted.

"What?..." Velma went back to her seat to get a better view. Mi-key stood behind their chairs, trying to get a better look as well.

"...not good." Was all Mi'key could say. Velma and Jil'eesa remained silent. There was not much more they could say about what they saw.

A Romulan warbird lay dead ahead of them. They had flown right in front of their bridge.

"Velma…we are being hailed…"

Next time on Star Trek: Justice

Chapter Three

Trust

Authors Notes 2: I love finding grammatical errors I made the first time. Best. Writer. Ever. Amiright? Also, weren't Romulan Warbirds in TNG pretty intimidating?